Liverpool defender soaks up Anfield view ahead of Bournemouth clash

The Italy worldwide has not featured for the club since April 28.

The young Bournemouth manager, widely considered among the most promising in the country, observed Brendan Rodgers’ methods while the Northern Irishman was in charge at Swansea before his appointment at Liverpool.

He accepted a steep pay cut when he signed his three-year contract at Anfield, but his agent Mino Raiola negotiated a number of add-ons for his client, including a series of lucrative loyalty bonuses. Someone you look up to and admire. I respect the way he conducts himself as well. If you want to go over the top you may not have the profile of player who can do that. Although one game doesn’t make a season, there were warnings Brendan Rodgers can’t afford to ignore.

Eddie Howe’s side, however, will be encouraged by their dominance in possession and the amount of chances they created in their opening game against Aston Villa. “But it’s another learning curve for me and hopefully I can kick on now and enjoy Premier League football with Bournemouth”. Bournemouth are sure to travel to Anfield with hopes of earning a surprise result, but Liverpool should have too much for them, which is why we are backing the Reds to extend their winning start to the season.

Ings, another new signing, was not required from the bench at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday and Rodgers admits he could find minutes hard to come by in the early weeks of the campaign. In six all-meetings (all in cup competitions), Liverpool has won four and drawn two. “For the first time in their careers maybe, they find themselves not being a regular”.

Bournemouth’s two previous trips to Anfield to face the Reds have ended in a 4-1 defeat (FA Cup 3rd round replays in 1927 and 1968).

Simon Mignolet has kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League goalkeeper in 2015 (10).

Liverpool launched 28 long balls on MD1 against Stoke; 12 more than they averaged per game in 2014/15 (16).

It seems like Bournemouth succumbed to the pressure of playing in England’s top tier league for the first time, but their performance was perceived as decent and there will be a lot to adjust for Eddie Howe’s boys as the games move along.

The skilful forward made a 12-minute cameo in Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Stoke City last week but Rodgers says he has been impressed with the signings progress and he could soon be ready to start.

Matt Ritchie assisted more goals than any other player in the Championship in 2014-15 (17).